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Outman looking to put 2012 season behind him

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Not long after learning he had made the Rockies' 2012 Opening Day roster, left-hander Josh Outman came down with a case of food poisoning and suffered a strained oblique while vomiting.

Changes in his motion while trying to come back from the injury caused inconsistency that led to a season of bouncing between the Majors and the Minors. He wasn't right until September, when he threw scoreless ball in nine of 12 relief appearances. He finished the year 1-3 with an 8.19 ERA in 27 games, including seven starts.

After the season, Outman, 28, went 2-1 with a 4.21 ERA in six starts in the Dominican Winter League, and he is back at camp this year hoping to turn heads again -- and be known for more than the guy whose stomach turned at the wrong time.

"I don't think that I'm ever going to be able to live that one down, and I've made peace with that fact," Outman said. "Once it's out there, it's out there. But I think I'm OK with that story being embellished if I can put my body of work from last season to rest. It's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately mentality. If I have a strong 2013, everybody will forget about 2012."

The Rockies have said Outman is a competitor for a starting-rotation spot, but he also has the versatility to pitch out of the bullpen.